Binford scattered seven hits in 6 1/3 innings with no walks and six strikeouts. In four starts with the Naturals, Binford has a 2.15 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 23 innings and just three walks. He has a WHIP of 1.00.

Sam Selman struck out four in 1 2/3 innings and Ali Williams pitched the ninth.

Left fielder Justin Trapp had three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Second baseman Angel Franco had a pair of hits, while first baseman Chelsor Cuthbert and third baseman Hunter Dozier each had a double.

Other games

**Class AAA Omaha broke a tie by scoring four runs in the top of the eighth inning, then saw New Orleans put a five-spot on the board in the bottom half as the Storm Chasers lost 8-7. The score was 3-3, but Christian Colon’s double scored Pedro Ciriaco opened the scoring in the eight. Justin Maxwell added an RBI single and Paulo Orlando had a two-run single. Louis Coleman allowed all five runs, but just two were earned after a Colon error. Catcher Francisco Pena hit his 21st home run of the season. Starter Buddy Baumann allowed two runs (one earned) in four innings.

**Brandon Finnegan is going to allow a run at some point. He just didn’t Saturday night, giving up two hits and a walk in four innings, but Class A Wilmington lost 2-1 to Winston-Salem. Finnegan, the Royals’ first-round pick in last month’s draft, has given up three hits, one walk and struck out 11 in 11 innings over four starts. Bubba Starling hit his eighth home run of the season for the Blue Rocks.

**Pedro Fernandez and Matt Tenuta combined on a three-hitter in Class A Lexington’s 1-0 win over Savannah. Fernandez, 1-6, gave up one hit in six innings. He struck out four and walked two. Tenua got his first save by allowing two hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings. First baseman Frank Schwindel had two doubles and a triple and the game’s lone RBI, which scored Kenny Diekroeger.

**Second baseman Luis Valenzuela had three hits, including a three-run homer, and four RBIs, but Rookie-Advanced Idaho Falls lost 7-6 at Ogden. Starter Jake Newberry, 3-2, allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out five.

**Scott Blewett, the Royals’ second-round pick in last month’s draft, allowed three hits and one unearned run in three innings in Rookie Burlington’s 5-2 win over Kingsport. Blewett gave up three hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out two. In three starts covering 6 2/3 innings, Blewett has a 1.35 ERA.

To reach Pete Grathoff, send email to pgrathoff@kcstar.com. Follow him at twitter.com/pgrathoff